Stephen Thomas Reilly, Jr.

After a brief illness, SSgt. Stephen Thomas Reilly Jr. USMC, of Hingham, MA passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 4, 2021- exactly one day before his 89th birthday - his son David at his side.  Just like he dealt with all experiences in life, Steve managed this illness with a quiet strength, resolve and humbleness.

Steve was born on February 5, 1932 to Stephen T. Reilly Sr. and Mary C. Reilly.  The oldest of three children, Steve learned very quickly the importance of being the responsible one.  He spent a great deal of his early life keeping his younger siblings out of trouble.  His work ethic, responsibility and accountability led to him enlisting in the Marines in 1951.  He was honorably discharged after distinguished service in 1954.

Upon his return, he continued the courtship of the lovely Mary Lou Leonard of Mission Hill and they married in 1955 to begin a beautiful life together.  They purchased their first home in West Roxbury, eventually moved to a bigger home in Hyde Park when their family started growing and finally settled down in their dream home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Pembroke.

Steve turned his aptitude for math and physics into both a 45-year career as an Electrical Engineer (40 of those years with Charles T. Main in Boston) and a part time role as a high school tutor for his children (and many of his children’s’ friends), assuring all of them passed algebra and calculus with flying colors.

In his spare time, Steve loved being outdoors.  Three of his greatest pleasures were walking on the beach, skiing the New England slopes and playing a round of golf.  He became an avid skier relatively late in life and (as was his nature) put everything he had into it – devouring books and magazines and watching endless videos on the subject.  And, of course, he developed into an extremely accomplished (and enviously graceful) master of the sport within a ridiculously short amount of time.

He took up running in 1975 and ran local road races all around the South Shore for well over two decades.  When he developed back problems from running, Steve began cycling and spent many long weekend days over the next 15 years cruising the local area – including several 100-mile century rides around the Cape and back.  Just two weeks before his passing, Steve walked a mile along Nantasket Beach with his daughter Patricia.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his younger brother Maj. Edmund W. Reilly USMC.  He is survived by his sister Catherine M. Powell of Reno, NV as well as his five children: Steve Reilly and his wife Sheila of Woburn, David Reilly and his wife Paulina of Mashpee, John Reilly and his wife Carol of Sharon, Patricia Constantino and her husband David of Weymouth and Kevin Reilly and his wife Dina of Ferrum, VA.  To this day, his children still see him as a superhero.  He was always there for them, through all the ups and downs of life, and taught them the most important lesson they have ever learned.

Go outside.

“It is there,” he would say, “that you can truly see all the majesty and beauty that surrounds you.”

Steve is also survived by his five grandchildren Elizabeth, Jackie, Stephen, Daniel and Nicholas, who all got to see him at his very best - as a caring, nurturing and encouraging grandfather; and who each share with him an unconditional and unanimous love of the outdoors.  (They, of course, have also been subjected to his slightly (and millennially) modified doctrine - “Get off your phone and go outside.”)

Visitation for Steve will be held on Wednesday, February 10th from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington Street, Rte 53, Hanover, MA 02339. All are invited to attend. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 11th at 10 am at St. Mary’s, 392 Hanover St., Rte 139, Hanover, MA 02339.

To view Steve's Funeral Mass, click here.

People wishing to honor Steve’s life can make donations to the Dementia Society of America here.